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251 reviews
All I Wanted Was Sushi But I Got Abducted By Aliens Instead by Petra Palerno
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Sexual content, Slavery, Xenophobia, Trafficking, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Dragonfruit by Makiia Lucier
adventurous
funny
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Magical sea dragons?! đđđ
Magical tattoo???
Pirates and seas adventures???
I love this book and the audiobook? Amazing Highly reccomend .
Magical tattoo???
Pirates and seas adventures???
I love this book and the audiobook? Amazing Highly reccomend .
I'd love to see this author write an adult adventure with like the smallest romance plot line because they can write the most sublte flirty that has me kicking and screaming
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Lost and Lassoed by Lyla Sage
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I don't think I've loved a book in a series the way I loved this one.
Teddy and Gus's story in my opinion is well worth the wait! However I need to annotate this book
I cried more than I thought I would and omg - Riley in this books is to die for! She's just as much apart of this story as her dad and Teddy.
Key tropes:
Single dad/co-parents
Wild child
Grumpy x Sunshine
small town vibes
Cowboy romacne
Vibes:
"You take care of everyone but who takes care of you"
"I can do it with a broken heart"
"YOYOK"
"It feels good to want.. but its scary to want to be wanted"
I had so many emtoitons while reading this and haven't stopped thinking about them or this series and reccomend it to anyone looking for a small town ,spicy, cowboy romance with mental health rep and fully formed characters.
Thank you to edelweiss and PRH for this ARC copy.
Months later:
5 STARS I'm rereading this book and I just have one thing to addIT'S ROCK FUCKING JASMINE! And I mean that with my whole heart!
Teddy and Gus's story in my opinion is well worth the wait! However I need to annotate this book
I cried more than I thought I would and omg - Riley in this books is to die for! She's just as much apart of this story as her dad and Teddy.
Key tropes:
Single dad/co-parents
Wild child
Grumpy x Sunshine
small town vibes
Cowboy romacne
Vibes:
"You take care of everyone but who takes care of you"
"I can do it with a broken heart"
"YOYOK"
"It feels good to want.. but its scary to want to be wanted"
I had so many emtoitons while reading this and haven't stopped thinking about them or this series and reccomend it to anyone looking for a small town ,spicy, cowboy romance with mental health rep and fully formed characters.
Thank you to edelweiss and PRH for this ARC copy.
Months later:
5 STARS I'm rereading this book and I just have one thing to add
Thieves' Gambit by Kayvion Lewis
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I finished this book and immediately requested book two because that cliff hanger might have ruined me for the entire year.
High stakes balanced beautifully comedy. Heist, puzzles, competitions- It was so much fun! If you loved the inheritance games and the hunger games (book one) you'll eat this book up!
Twelves teens competing to be recognized as the best thief of a new generation and win the prize of one wish, a wish for anything!
High stakes balanced beautifully comedy. Heist, puzzles, competitions- It was so much fun! If you loved the inheritance games and the hunger games (book one) you'll eat this book up!
Twelves teens competing to be recognized as the best thief of a new generation and win the prize of one wish, a wish for anything!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Where Sleeping Girls Lie by Faridah ĂbĂkĂ©-ĂyĂmĂdĂ©
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Dear Faridah ĂbĂkĂ©-ĂyĂmĂdĂ©
You have just become one of my new auto buy authors.
This book is full of suspense, mystery and a true look at what dark academia means in young adult fiction. To critique and comment on educational institutions and the system and structure.
The audiobook was amazing as well, I love when extra production is put into an audiobook to make them more engaging.
If you love a story that keeps you guessing, full of puzzles and anagrams and unreliable narrators then this is the perfect book to recommend. This is so much more than a YA mystery thriller and I hope that anyone picking this title up can see that once they're done.
Also there is a cute animal sidekick so, bonus points.
You have just become one of my new auto buy authors.
This book is full of suspense, mystery and a true look at what dark academia means in young adult fiction. To critique and comment on educational institutions and the system and structure.
The audiobook was amazing as well, I love when extra production is put into an audiobook to make them more engaging.
If you love a story that keeps you guessing, full of puzzles and anagrams and unreliable narrators then this is the perfect book to recommend. This is so much more than a YA mystery thriller and I hope that anyone picking this title up can see that once they're done.
Also there is a cute animal sidekick so, bonus points.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
TW: Drowning
Done and Dusted by Lyla Sage
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
A fun and refreshing small town romance. I know the "cowboy" part of this cowboy romance is what draws people in but I think the cowgirl really steals the show!
Perfect balance of the two character outside of the relationship and their stories with spice mixed in.
Emmy is coming home to find herself and think about her next phase in life when she sees Luke Brooks, her older brothers best friends and torn in her side her whole life. As Emmy is overcoming huddles that has taken her out of her career with Lukes help they can't help but find comfort in each other.
There is so much that happens in the little romance but I couldn't help loving every moment, The audiobook was STUNNING.
A few tropes
Brother best friends
Hate to like/love
Small town
ADHD and anexity rep
Rediscovering yourself
overcoming family drama
*I will be reading Swift and Saddled - I don't care what anyone says. It cant be that bad.
Perfect balance of the two character outside of the relationship and their stories with spice mixed in.
Emmy is coming home to find herself and think about her next phase in life when she sees Luke Brooks, her older brothers best friends and torn in her side her whole life. As Emmy is overcoming huddles that has taken her out of her career with Lukes help they can't help but find comfort in each other.
There is so much that happens in the little romance but I couldn't help loving every moment, The audiobook was STUNNING.
A few tropes
Brother best friends
Hate to like/love
Small town
ADHD and anexity rep
Rediscovering yourself
overcoming family drama
*I will be reading Swift and Saddled - I don't care what anyone says. It cant be that bad.
Swift and Saddled by Lyla Sage
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Perfect sequel to Done and Dusted! Better than DND if I may say.
I loved Ada and Wes so much that I read this book in a week!
Audiobook was stunning and I fell in love even more with the town of Meadowlark.
Ada is a big city gal looking for her big break to do more work in her field of interior design and working on a huge project for the Rebel Blue Ranch is the perfect opportunity to flex more of her talent. Only true obstacle is she didn't think her boss to be the charming cowboy she just meet in the local bar and can't stop day dreaming about.
Wes Ryder is the middle Ryder and has spent his entire life looking for his place in the families legacy, he decides that blazing his own path is the only way to do it which means no getting distracted by his heart or the painfully familiar tug Ada seems to have on it.
I think the character were even more fleshed out and brought to life in this book. I related to Ada so much I found myself annotating and crying at times.
Also Wes's relationship with his depression and how he treats and talks about it was BEAUTIFUL.
Tropes:
Small town
forced proximity
work place-ish romance
Big city girl small town boy
Black cat/ golden retriever
Anxiety rep
Depression rep
This is a 10/10 in my book
I loved Ada and Wes so much that I read this book in a week!
Audiobook was stunning and I fell in love even more with the town of Meadowlark.
Ada is a big city gal looking for her big break to do more work in her field of interior design and working on a huge project for the Rebel Blue Ranch is the perfect opportunity to flex more of her talent. Only true obstacle is she didn't think her boss to be the charming cowboy she just meet in the local bar and can't stop day dreaming about.
Wes Ryder is the middle Ryder and has spent his entire life looking for his place in the families legacy, he decides that blazing his own path is the only way to do it which means no getting distracted by his heart or the painfully familiar tug Ada seems to have on it.
I think the character were even more fleshed out and brought to life in this book. I related to Ada so much I found myself annotating and crying at times.
Also Wes's relationship with his depression and how he treats and talks about it was BEAUTIFUL.
Tropes:
Small town
forced proximity
work place-ish romance
Big city girl small town boy
Black cat/ golden retriever
Anxiety rep
Depression rep
This is a 10/10 in my book
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Outdrawn by Deanna Grey
5.0
If I could rate a book 6 âïž I would, absolutely would.
The fact these characters are people outside of their relationships is just *chefs kiss*
The fact these characters are people outside of their relationships is just *chefs kiss*
A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal
FLICKâS MOM BEING THE RAM!? Why? Who is the Wolf? Has he been there the entire time?? Also Penn shouldnât have died- at all.
Arthie being a vampire is very much in your face but it makes sense to distract you from other twists.
Jin turning into a vampire?? Trauma on trauma. I just want to give him a huge and find his parents.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
First off.
â 5
I loved the story and characters.
â 5
I loved the story and characters.
Thank you to Netgalley and FSG for this audio arc.
Maya Saroya, Thank you for bringing these characters to life.
This feels beautiful and fun and very fresh! Vampires, twists and tea. I love Arthie and I need every main character to be as fiery as she is. I am a huge found family lover and this book DELIVERS!
This is a very character driven book and the heist does take a backseat in act two and three, if youâre here for a heist you might not be happy. IF YOU WANT DRAMA AND PLOT TWIST⊠You want this book.
Spindrift is not just a tea house, itâs a home for everyone she loves and is afraid to love.
NOW Spoiler
Arthie being a vampire is very much in your face but it makes sense to distract you from other twists.
Jin turning into a vampire?? Trauma on trauma. I just want to give him a huge and find his parents.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Racism, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism